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F. H. VAN vommsuns.

BED 0R COT.

APPLICATION FILED 056.4, 1918 1-,304,419E Patented May 20, 1919.

FREDRICK VAN VOLKENIBURG, 0F ELKO, NEVADA.

BED OR COT.

Specification of Letters latent.

Patented May 20, 1919.

Application filed December 4,1918. Serial N 0. 265,221. I

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FREDRICK H. VAN

vice is in use, may be sustained by the ruin ning board of an automobile, or by some other similar extraneous support, and the other end sustained by folda-ble legs. A further object of the invention is to provide a frame structure and an independent slat structure,

both capable of being contracted to a small compass. A further object is to provide simple means whereby the parts may be s ecurely held in extended relatlon 1n suchm'anner as to preclude accidental collapsing of the device. y

The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a plan view illustrating a cot or bed constructed in accordance with the invention, the parts being shown in extended relation, ready for use. Fig. is a side view. Fig. 3 is a transverse section illustrating the means for bracing the legs.

Referring to the drawing, 10, 10, designate rigid side bars constructed of any desired material, having hinge members 11 attached to one end, said hinge members belng complemental to hinge members 12, secured to the running board 13 of an automoblle. It is to be understood that although the run ning board of an automobile is mentioned.

the invention is not limited thereto, as any other rigid support may be substituted without departing from the spirit of the invention. The hinge members 11 and 12 may be of any desired construction, connected by removable pintles 14 to permit of ready attachment and detachment of the side bars.

Hinged to the undersides of the side bars 10, near the outer or free ends thereof, are legs 15, the hinges, which may be of any suitable form, being indicated at 16, the hinged end of each leg abutting against the underside of its side bar, when in open position, to limit the opening swing of the leg. Crossed brace bars 17 are provided, said bars being pivotally connected at 18, and provided at their ends with hooks 19, posiilsioned toengage suitable studs '20 on the 7 V V The slat structure consists of a plurality of flexible strips 21 of canvas or other suitable material, to which the transverse slats 22 are attached in any preferred manner. !The inner end ofeach flexible strip 21 is provided with an eye'23, .or the like, positioned to engage a hook 24 on the running board 13, the outer end of each strip being provided with an eye 25. Owing to the fact that the strips 21 are substantiallyinelastic the necessary resilience for the slat structure is obtained by connecting each eye 25 with the stretcher bar 26, by means of a yieldable tension devicey such as a spring 27 Said springs 27 are provided with hook port-ions which are in detachable engagement with the eyes 25. The stretcher bar 26 extends transversely of the bed and engages clips 28 and 29 on the outer ends of the respective side bars, the clip 29 being pivoted so that it may be swung to one side to permit the stretcher bar to be placed into or removed from position.

When it is desired to use the cot or bed, the hinge members 11 of the side bars are connected with the hinge members 12, and the legs 15 are swung to open position and braced by means of the brace bars 17. In this manner a rigid frame structure is provided, the inner end of which is sustained by the running board of the automobile and the outer end sustained by the legs 15. The eyes 23 of the flexible strips 21, are then engaged with'the hooks 24c and the eyes 25 engaged with the springs 27, attached to the stretcher bar. This brings the slats 22 transversely of the side bars and so that they will loosely rest upon said side bars. The stretcher bar is then drawn outwardly until it is brought into engagement with the clips 28 and 29, the outer extremities of the side bars forming abutments to hold the stretcher bar against the tension of the springs. The clip 29 is then swung over the stretcher bar to hold it in position. The device is now ready to receive the bedding, and it will be observed that an exceedingly strong and substantially rigid frame structure is provided, in which the slats are supported with a certain amount of resilience, but with sufficient tension to prevent sagging. When it is desired to store the device, the stretcher bar is first disconnected from the side bars and the slat structure is then detached therefrom and from the running board. bars are then disconnected and swung into alinement, after which the side bars are detached from the running board and the legs folded under. The side bars, the tension bar and the brace bars may then all be rolled up inside of the slat structure and the whole confined in any suitable manner by straps or other lashings.

Having thus explained the nature of the invention and described an operative manner of constructing and using the same, although without attempting to set forth all of the forms of its use, or all of the forms in which it maybe made, what is claimed is 1. A cot of the character described com-.

upon said side bars when in use and having means at one end whereby it may be engaged with said extraneous support, and provided at its other end with yieldable means also attached to said stretcher bar, whereby said stretcher bar is yieldably maintained in posi- Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by aduressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D, 0.

The brace tion and a yielding tension is applied to the slat structure.

2. A cot of the character described comprising rigid side bars each provided at one end with means whereby it may be engaged with an extraneous support, folda-ble legs sustaining the free ends of the-side bars, a stretcher bar shaped to abut against the free ends or said side bars, flexible strips each having means at one. end whereby it may be engaged with saidextraneous support, yieldable tension devices connecting the other ends of said flexible strips with the stretcher bar, and slats attached to said flexible strips and resting loosely upon said side bars when in use. V I

3. cot of the character described comprising rigid side bars each provided at one end with means whereby it may be engaged with an extraneous support, foldable legs sustaining the free ends of the side bars,a stretcher bar shaped to abut against the free ends of said side bars, flexible strips having eyes attached to both ends, the eyes at one end being positioned to engage attaching members carried by the extraneous support, springs attached to'the stretcher bar and having hook portions engaging theeyes of the other ends of said flexible strips, and slats attached to the flexible strips and resting loosely upon theside bars when in use.

In testimony whereof lhave hereunto set my hand.

rREDR oK H. VAN VOLKENBURG. v 

